Apparatus and method for reducing dosage time in UV-C germicidal irradiation

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for reducing dosage time in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems. A UV-C reflective adhesive film may be configured as sheets, or in a roll that may be cut to a desired size or shape. A user may apply the UV-C reflective adhesive film to a desired surface of an interior room by exposing an adhesive surface to the desired interior surface. A reflective layer of the UV-C reflective adhesive film is configured to improve the reflectance percentage or reflectance pattern of a desired interior surface with respect to incident UV-C or near UV-C light. The improved reflectance properties of the desired surface functions to reflect a greater amount of light back to one or more closed-loop sensors in operation with a UV-C or near UV-C germicidal irradiation system. The improved reflectance thereby reduces the amount of time required for one or more closed-loop sensors in operation with a UV-C or near UV-C germicidal irradiation system to measure an effective kill-dose for surface disinfection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/887,218, which claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/454,097, filed on Feb. 3, 2017 entitled “APPARATUSAND METHOD FOR REDUCING DOSAGE TIME IN UV-C GERMICIDAL IRRADIATION”, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety at leastby reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and devices for bacterial,fungal and/or viral sterilization and disinfection; and, is moreparticularly directed to an apparatus and method for reducing dosagetime in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

2. Description of Related Art

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method thatuses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivatemicroorganisms. One mechanism by which UV-C deactivates microorganismsis by destroying nucleic acids and disrupting their DNA, leaving themunable to perform vital cellular functions. The administration of UV-Cradiation is becoming widely adopted by many hospitals as a moreeffective and reliable means of surface disinfection, as compared to theuse of chemical cleaning agents alone. The effectiveness of germicidalUV-C irradiation depends on factors such as the length of time amicroorganism is exposed to UV-C, the intensity and wavelength of theUV-C radiation, the presence of particles that can protect themicroorganisms from UV, and a microorganism's ability to withstand UV-Cduring its exposure. In air and surface disinfection applications, theUV effectiveness is estimated by calculating the UV dose to be deliveredto the microbial population. A method of calculating UV dose is asfollows: UV dose μWs/cm²=UV intensity μW/cm²×Exposure time (seconds).

Germicidal UV for disinfection is most typically generated by amercury-vapor lamp. Low-pressure mercury vapor has a strong emissionline at 254 nm, which is within the range of wavelengths thatdemonstrate strong disinfection effect. The optimal wavelengths fordisinfection are close to 265 nm. UV-C LEDs use semiconductors to emitlight between 255 nm-280 nm. The wavelength emission is tunable byadjusting the material of the semiconductor. Although the germicidalproperties of ultraviolet (UV) light have long been known, it is onlycomparatively recently that the antimicrobial properties of visibleviolet-blue 405 nm light have been discovered and used for environmentaldisinfection and infection control applications. A large body ofscientific evidence is now available that provides underpinningknowledge of the 405 nm light-induced photodynamic inactivation processinvolved in the destruction of a wide range of prokaryotic andeukaryotic microbial species, including resistant forms such asbacterial and fungal spores. Violet-blue light, particularly 405 nmlight, has significant antimicrobial properties against a wide range ofbacterial and fungal pathogens and, although germicidal efficacy islower than UV light, this limitation is offset by its facility for safe,continuous use in occupied environments.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of some embodiments of theinvention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention.This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is notintended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or todelineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to presentsome embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude tothe more detailed description that is presented later.

An object of the present disclosure is a UV-C reflective adhesive filmcomprising a UV-C reflective layer, the UV-C reflective layer comprisingone or more elements having a reflectance percentage in the range offrom about 50% to about 90% for light wavelengths in the range of fromabout 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; a substrate layer, theUV-C reflective layer being disposed upon a first surface of thesubstrate layer; and, an adhesive layer being disposed upon a secondsurface of the substrate layer. The one ore more elements are metallicor non-metallic reflective elements.

In certain embodiments, provided is a UV-C reflective adhesive film,comprising: a UV-C reflective layer, the UV-C reflective layercomprising one or more non-metallic reflective elements, the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements having a reflectance percentage in arange of from about 50% to about 90% for light wavelengths in a range offrom about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; a substrate layer,the UV-C reflective layer being disposed upon a first surface of thesubstrate layer; and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer beingdisposed upon a second surface of the substrate layer such that the UV-Creflective adhesive film is selectively coupled to an interior side of atarget surface, wherein the UV-C reflective layer comprises one or moresurface properties operable to reflect light according to apredetermined diffusion pattern, the UV-C reflective layer beingconfigured to steer the diffusion pattern of reflected light towards asensor. In some embodiments, the UV-C reflective layer comprises one ormore surface properties having a substantially homogeneous distribution.In other embodiments, the UV-C reflective layer comprises one or moresurface properties having a substantially heterogeneous distribution.

The one or more non-metallic reflective elements may be selected fromthe group of UV-reflecting materials consisting of polycrystallinematerial, polymeric material, organic material, and synthetic material.In embodiments, the one or more non-metallic reflective elementscomprise at least one selected from the group consisting of fibers,nanoparticles, and nanostructures, which may be operably configured soas to have a desired reflectance. In certain embodiments, the one ormore non-metallic reflective elements comprise nanoparticlesagglomerated to one another to form nanostructures having desiredreflectance properties.

In some embodiments, the substrate layer of the UV-C reflective adhesivefilm is constructed from a porous substrate. In other embodiments, thesubstrate layer of the UV-C reflective adhesive film is constructed froma non-porous substrate.

As a further object of the present disclosure, provided is a method forreducing dosage time in UV-C germicidal irradiation applications, themethod comprising: applying a UV-C reflective adhesive film as describedherein to an interior side of a target surface, the UV-C reflectiveadhesive film having one or more non-metallic reflective elements havinga reflectance percentage in the range of from about 50% to about 90% forlight wavelengths in the range of from about 200 nanometers to about 500nanometers, the UV-C reflective adhesive film having one or more surfaceproperties operable to reflect light according to a predetermineddiffusion pattern; emitting, with one or more LED emitters, a desiredintensity of short wavelength light in a range of from about 265nanometers to about 405 nanometers to the target surface of the interiorroom; receiving, with one or more short wavelength light sensors,reflected light from the target surface; and measuring, with one or moreprocessors operably engaged with the one or more short wavelength lightsensors, an effective dose of short wavelength light from the one ormore LED emitters for germicidal irradiation. In embodiments, reducingdosage time in UV-C germicidal irradiation according to the methoddescribed herein further comprises discontinuing the emission of thedesired intensity of short wavelength light once the effective dose ismeasured. In further embodiments, the UV-C reflective adhesive film isoperably configured to steer the reflected light towards the one or moreshort wavelength light sensors. In some embodiments, the one or moreshort wavelength light sensors are closed-loop sensors.

As a further object of the invention, provided is a UV-C reflectivesurface, the UV-C reflective surface comprising one or more non-metallicreflective elements, the one or more non-metallic reflective elementshaving a reflectance percentage in a range of from about 50% to about90% for light wavelengths in a range of from about 200 nanometers toabout 500 nanometers; and an adhesive surface operable to couple theUV-C reflective adhesive film to a desired interior surface. Inembodiments, the adhesive surface is comprised of a reusable bondingadhesive.

The one or more non-metallic reflective elements may be selected fromthe group of UV-C reflective materials consisting of polycrystallinematerials, polymeric materials, organic materials, and syntheticmaterials. In embodiments, the one or more non-metallic reflectiveelements comprise at least one selected from the group consisting offibers, nanoparticles, and nanostructures operably configured to have adesired reflectance. In certain embodiments, the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements are selected from the group consistingof glass, ceramics, synthetic polymers, pearlescent material, andSi-containing compounds.

As still a further object of the invention, provided is a UV-Creflective adhesive film comprising: a UV-C reflective layer, the UV-Creflective layer comprising one or more non-metallic reflectiveelements, the one or more non-metallic reflective elements having areflectance percentage in a range of from 50% to 90% for lightwavelengths in a range of from about 200 nanometers to about 500nanometers, and comprising one or more surface properties operable toreflect light according to a predetermined diffusion pattern, whereinthe UV-C reflective layer is configured to steer a diffusion pattern ofreflected light towards a sensor; a substrate layer, the UV-C reflectivelayer being disposed upon a first surface of the substrate layer; and anadhesive layer, the adhesive layer being disposed upon a second surfaceof the substrate layer. The one or more non-metallic reflective elementsare preferably selected from the group of UV-C reflective materialsconsisting of polycrystalline materials, polymeric materials, syntheticmaterials and organic materials, and have a form selected from fibers,nanoparticles and nanostructures.

In embodiments, the UV-C reflective layer of the UV-C reflectiveadhesive film comprises one or more surface properties operable toreflect light according to a predetermined reflection angle. In certainembodiments, the one or more non-metallic reflective elements comprisenanoparticles agglomerated to one another so as to form a desiredgeometry having desired reflectance properties. In still furtherembodiments, the one or more non-metallic reflective elements compriseat least one UV-C reflective material selected from the group consistingof glass, ceramics, pearlescent materials and Si-containing compounds.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent andimportant features of the present invention so that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood andso that the present contribution to the art can be more fullyappreciated. Additional features of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand the disclosed specific methods and structures may be readilyutilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures forcarrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should berealized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures donot depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a concept diagram illustrating the difference between specularand diffuse reflection on a reflecting surface;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual cross-section view of a UV-C reflective adhesivefilm, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plot of surface reflectance percentage at points along a 360degree circumference in an interior room;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the difference in short waveradiation reflectance of an interior surface, with and without a UV-Creflective adhesive film as described in embodiments herein; and,

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of a method for reducing UV-Cgermicidal irradiation dosage time, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Exemplary embodiments are described herein to provide a detaileddescription of the present disclosure. Variations of these embodimentswill be apparent to those of skill in the art. Moreover, certainterminology is used in the following description for convenience onlyand is not limiting. For example, the words “right,” “left,” “top,”“bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “inner” and “outer” designate directions inthe drawings to which reference is made. The word “a” is defined to mean“at least one.” The terminology includes the words above specificallymentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide for an apparatus andmethod for reducing dosage time in ultraviolet germicidal irradiationsystems. Various systems for germicidal irradiation are known. Many ofthese systems function to employ one or more UV-C or near UV-C emittersfor surface disinfection through emission of short wave radiation. Thesesystems may utilize one or more closed-loop sensors operable to measurethe amount of UV light or near UV light reflected from a target surfaceback to a UV-C sensor during an irradiation cycle. The reflected lightcollected by the closed-loop sensors is measured by the system todetermine whether an effective dose for germicidal disinfection, or“kill dose,” has been administered to the target area by the UV-C ornear UV-C emitters. Germicidal irradiation systems generally operate ona “cycle,” in which the UV-C emitters continue to deliver radiation tothe room until the sensors have collected a predetermined kill dose ofradiation. The time needed to deliver an effective kill dose, however,is not uniform across all surfaces—at least not from the perspective ofa closed-loop sensor. This is due to varying reflectance propertiesacross different surfaces and locations in an interior room. By way ofexample, a sensor will receive a higher rate of reflected UV-C radiationfrom a flat surface of a wall than it will in a corner. This is due tovarious factors such as angle of incidence and angle of reflected light,as well as the reflectance percentage of a particular surface.

To illustrate the above concept, and in reference to FIG. 1, UV-C andnear UV-C light is reflected from a surface according to the reflectanceproperties of that surface. A highly reflective and smooth surface, suchas a mirror, may display specular (or near-specular) reflection and havea higher reflectance percentage, i.e. percentage of reflected vs.absorbed light. By contrast, a surface such as an interior wall that isnot perfectly smooth and painted with matte paint, will display a morediffuse reflection pattern and have a lower reflectance percentage.Likewise, the angle of the incident light affects the angle of thereflected light. This is the case for both diffuse and specularreflections. In the case of germicidal irradiation systems, interiorsurfaces with lower reflectance and/or more diffuse reflectionproperties will reflect less light back to the closed-loop sensors. As aresult, it takes more time for the closed loop sensor to measure aneffective kill-dose for the system; resulting in a longer disinfectioncycle time and over-radiation of interior surfaces.

An object of the present invention is to reduce dosage time inultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems. Specifically, embodiments ofthe present disclosure relate to an apparatus and methods for reducingdosage time in ultraviolet germicidal irradiation systems.

Referring now to FIG. 2, provided is a conceptual cross-section view ofa UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 according to an embodiment of theinvention. The UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 may be configured as asheet, or in a roll that may be cut to a desired size or shape. A usermay apply UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 to a desired surface of aninterior room by exposing an adhesive surface to the desired interiorsurface. A reflective layer of the UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 isconfigured to improve the reflectance percentage or reflectance patternof a desired interior surface with respect to incident UV-C or near UV-Clight. The improved reflectance properties of the desired surfaceresulting from application of the UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 aredue to a greater amount of light being reflected back to one or moreclosed-loop sensors in operation with a UV-C or near UV-C germicidalirradiation system. The improved reflectance of the target surfacereduces the amount of time required for one or more closed-loop sensors,in operation with a UV-C or near UV-C germicidal irradiation system, tocollect an effective kill-dose of radiation needed for surfacedisinfection.

In certain embodiments, a UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 is generallycomprised of a reflective layer 202, a substrate layer 204 (optional),and an adhesive layer 206. Reflective layer 202 may be comprised of oneor more elements made of a reflective material (or “reflectiveelements”), the one or more reflective elements having a reflectancepercentage in the range of about 50% to about 90% for wavelengths in therange of about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers. In certainembodiments, the reflective layer 202 may comprise a reflective materialin the form of a reflective tape. In other embodiments, reflectivematerials suitable for use in embodiments of the invention may beselected from metallic or non-metallic reflective materials. Inembodiments, reflective layer 202 may comprise one or more non-metallicreflective elements. Such non-metallic reflective elements may beselected from polycrystalline materials, polymeric materials, organicmaterials, and synthetic materials. In embodiments, the non-metallicreflective elements may comprise at least one of fibers, nanoparticles,and nanostructures.

In embodiments, reflective elements may comprise nanostructures formedof a plurality of nanoparticles, the nanostructures being operablyconfigured to have a desired reflectance. In such embodiments, at leastsome of the plurality of nanoparticles may be agglomerated to oneanother so as to form a desired geometry having improved reflectanceproperties. For example, refractive spheres or pyramid-like structuresmay be operably configured so as to make the reflective layer 202 atleast partially retroreflective. Nanostructures may be furtherconfigured to comprise a UV-C or near UV-C light reflecting coating foroptimal reflectance.

Non-limiting examples of non-metallic reflective materials suitable foruse in embodiments of the invention include, e.g., synthetic polymers,composite materials, pearlescent materials, glass, ceramics,Si-containing compounds, silica particles, beryllium, and even silk.Specific examples of ceramic nanoparticles may include SiO₂, NiO,mixtures of ceramics, doped ceramics, and the like. In certainembodiments, SiO₂ particles may be used. Various Si-containingmaterials, particularly those having a silane structure (Si(OEt)₃), mayalso serve as adhesion enhancing materials for nanoparticles. In someembodiments, such materials having a silane structure may contain carbonto provide sufficiently long chain molecules that provide a space forbonding of the nanoparticles. Examples of carbon-containing silanestructures include 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane or 1,6-bistrichlorosilyl hexane. Non-limiting examples of polymeric materialssuitable for use in embodiments of the invention may includepolydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA),polystyrene (PS), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Various films andcoatings having reflective properties are also known, and may be used inembodiments of the inventions. In certain embodiments, SiO₂ nanoparticlecolloids may be used, for example, in a colloidal reflective coating.

Reflective layer 202 may also have surface properties such that thereflective layer 202 may be operable to reflect light according to apredetermined reflection angle or diffusion pattern. For example,surface properties of the reflective layer 202 may include variations intexture or distribution of reflective elements or material. Inembodiments, reflective layer 202 may be substantially smooth or mayhave a textured finish. In embodiments, reflective layer 202 may be havea substantially homogeneous distribution of reflective or texturalproperties, or may display varying or heterogeneous surface properties.

In certain embodiments, UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 may include asubstrate layer 204. Substrate layer 204 may be any form of porous ornon-porous surface substrate operably configured to provide a surfacelayer for reflective layer 202 and/or a bonding surface for adhesivelayer 206. In certain embodiments, UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 maybe comprised of reflective layer 202 and adhesive layer 206. Adhesivelayer 206 may be bonded to reflective layer 202 or to substrate layer204. Adhesive layer 206 may have a protective, removable backing toprotect the adhesive from exposure to air prior to use. Protectivebackings suitable for use in embodiments include those conventionallyknown in the art, and thus need not be described at length herein.Adhesive layer 206 may further comprise a reusable adhesive or a bondingadhesive. In certain embodiments, adhesive layer 206 does not include anadhesive, but instead displays or has adhesive properties sufficient toselectively couple to an interior surface. Alternatively, UV-Creflective adhesive film 102 may be comprised of only a reflective layer202, the reflective layer 202 having a first reflective surface and asecond adhesive surface, such that the second adhesive surfaceselectively couples the UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 to a desiredinterior surface.

Referring now to FIG. 3, provided is a plot of surface reflectancepercentages at points along a 360° circumference of an interior room. Inthe example illustrated in FIG. 3, the reflectance percentage of aninterior room is measured along a 360° circumference from an approximatemidpoint of the room. In this example, the surfaces of the interior roomdisplay strong reflectivity (e.g., approximately 80°) at location 100°,and weak reflectivity (e.g., approximately 10% to 20%) at locationsbetween 190° to 260°, i.e., interior room location 302. In embodimentsof the invention, an interior room location may be, e.g., a corner ofthe room, or a portion of the room with a matte or textured surface withpoor reflectance. In such embodiments, a UV-C reflective adhesive film102 described herein may be applied to a wall surface of an interiorroom location 302 to improve the reflectance of the interior roomlocation 302.

Referring now to FIG. 4, provided is a block diagram illustratingreflectance of an interior room location 302, with and without a UV-Creflective adhesive film 102. According to an embodiment, UV-C emitter404 and near UV-C emitter 406 emit short wave radiation 410 on interiorsurface 302. For example, UV-C emitter 404 may emit short wave radiationat a wavelength of about 265 nanometers, while near UV-C emitter 406 mayemit short wave radiation at a wavelength of about 405 nanometers. Inthis embodiment, incident short wave radiation 410 is reflected frominterior surface 302 as reflected light 412. Reflected light 412 iscollected by sensor 402. Sensor 402 measures the amount of reflectedlight 412 to calculate a kill dose. Once sensor 402 receives acalculated kill dose, a communication is made to UV-C emitter 404 andnear UV-C emitter 406 to disengage emissions 410.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, interior surface 302 in theexemplified embodiment displays weak reflectivity (e.g., approximately10% to 20%), and may display a diffusion pattern that is not optimal forreflecting light in the direction of sensor 402. In order to improvereflectivity and/or diffusion pattern, UV-C reflective adhesive film 102is applied to interior surface 302. In this embodiment, UV-C reflectiveadhesive film 102 has an adhesive surface and a reflecting surface, asdescribed in FIG. 2 above. The adhesive surface is operably configuredto selectively couple UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 to interiorsurface 302. The reflecting surface is operably configured to increasethe reflectivity and/or steer the diffusion pattern of reflected light412. The application of UV-C reflective adhesive film 102 on interiorsurface 302 results in improved reflectivity and/or optimized diffusionpattern(s) for reflected light 412 in relation to sensor 402. Thisresults in more efficient collection of reflected light 412 by sensor402, and in turn, shorter overall time needed for sensor 402 to collecta kill-dose of short wave radiation from interior surface 302.

In reference to FIG. 5, provided is a process flow diagram of a method500 for reducing UV-C germicidal irradiation dosage time according tocertain embodiments. In the embodiment exemplified in FIG. 5, a UV-Creflective adhesive film is applied to a target surface in an interiorroom 502. A target surface may be, for example, a corner of a room. AUV-C reflective adhesive film according to embodiments of the inventionmay have a reflective surface and an adhesive surface. The reflectivesurface may be comprised of one or more reflective elements having areflectance percentage in a range of from about 50% to about 90% forlight wavelengths in a range of from about 200 nanometers to about 500nanometers. The reflective surface may also have surface properties suchthat the reflective layer is operable to reflect light according to apredetermined reflection angle or diffusion pattern. The adhesivesurface may contain an adhesive, or otherwise display adhesiveproperties, to selectively couple UV-C reflective adhesive film to atarget surface in an interior room. The adhesive surface may beconfigured to be removed and reapplied to different surfaces in a targetroom. The UV-C reflective adhesive film may be configured as a sheet orin a roll.

Continuing with the method 500 for reducing UV-C germicidal irradiationdosage time, LED emitters emit short wave radiation in a range of fromabout 265 nanometers to about 405 nanometers to the target surface 504.Light reflected from the target surface is collected by one or moreclosed-loop sensors 506. A kill-dose is measured by the one or moreclosed-loop sensors in response to the collected light, and thegermicidal irradiation is discontinued upon reaching a predeterminedkill dose 508.

The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims aswell as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention hasbeen described in its exemplary forms with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and combination and arrangement of parts may be employedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A UV-C reflective adhesive film comprising: aUV-C reflective layer, the UV-C reflective layer comprising one or morenon-metallic reflective elements, the one or more non-metallicreflective elements having a reflectance percentage in a range of fromabout 50% to about 90% for light wavelengths in a range of from about200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; a substrate layer, the UV-Creflective layer being disposed upon a first surface of the substratelayer; and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being disposed upon asecond surface of the substrate layer such that the UV-C reflectiveadhesive film is selectively coupled to an interior side of a targetsurface, wherein the UV-C reflective layer comprises one or more surfaceproperties operable to reflect light according to a predetermineddiffusion pattern, the UV-C reflective layer being configured to steerthe diffusion pattern of reflected light towards a sensor.
 2. The UV-Creflective adhesive film of claim 1, wherein the UV-C reflective layercomprises one or more surface properties having a substantiallyhomogeneous distribution.
 3. The UV-C reflective adhesive film of claim1, wherein the UV-C reflective layer comprises one or more surfaceproperties having a substantially heterogeneous distribution.
 4. TheUV-C reflective adhesive film of claim 1, wherein the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements are selected from the group of UV-Creflecting materials consisting of polycrystalline materials, polymericmaterials, organic materials, and synthetic materials.
 5. The UV-Creflective adhesive film of claim 1, wherein the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements comprise at least one selected from thegroup consisting of fibers, nanoparticles, and nanostructures, whereinthe one or more non-metallic reflective elements are operably configuredto have a desired reflectance.
 6. The UV-C reflective adhesive film ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more non-metallic reflective elementscomprise a plurality of nanoparticles agglomerated to one another toform nanostructures having desired reflectance properties.
 7. The UV-Creflective adhesive film of claim 1, wherein the substrate layer isconstructed from a porous substrate.
 8. A method for reducing dosagetime in UV-C germicidal irradiation applications, the method comprising:applying a UV-C reflective adhesive film of claim 1 to the interior sideof the target surface, the UV-C reflective adhesive film having the oneor more non-metallic reflective elements having a reflectance percentagein the range of from about 50% to about 90% for light wavelengths in therange of from about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers, wherein theUV-C reflective adhesive film comprises one or more surface propertiesoperable to reflect light according to a predetermined diffusionpattern; emitting, with one or more LED emitters, a desired intensity ofshort wavelength light in a range of from about 265 nanometers to about405 nanometers to the target surface of the interior room; receiving,with one or more short wavelength light sensors, reflected light fromthe target surface; and measuring, with one or more processors operablyengaged with the one or more short wavelength light sensors, aneffective dose of short wavelength light from the one or more LEDemitters for germicidal irradiation.
 9. The method for reducing dosagetime in UV-C germicidal irradiation applications of claim 8, furthercomprising discontinuing the emission of the desired intensity of shortwavelength light once the effective dose is measured.
 10. The method forreducing dosage time in UV-C germicidal irradiation applications ofclaim 8, wherein the UV-C reflective adhesive film is operable to steerthe reflected light towards the one or more short wavelength lightsensors.
 11. The method for reducing dosage time in UV-C germicidalirradiation applications of claim 8, wherein the one or more shortwavelength light sensors are closed-loop sensors.
 12. A UV-C reflectiveadhesive film comprising: a UV-C reflective surface, the UV-C reflectivesurface comprising one or more non-metallic reflective elements, the oneor more non-metallic reflective elements having a reflectance percentagein a range of from about 50% to about 90% for light wavelengths in arange of from about 200 nanometers to about 500 nanometers; and anadhesive surface operable to couple the UV-C reflective adhesive film toa desired interior surface, wherein the UV-C reflective surfacecomprises one or more surface properties operable to reflect lightaccording to a predetermined diffusion pattern configured to steer thediffusion pattern of reflected light towards a sensor.
 13. The UV-Creflective adhesive film of claim 12, wherein the adhesive surface iscomprised of a reusable bonding adhesive.
 14. The UV-C reflectiveadhesive film of claim 12, wherein the one or more non-metallicreflective elements are selected from the group of UV-C reflectivematerials consisting of polycrystalline materials, polymeric materials,organic materials, and synthetic materials.
 15. The UV-C reflectiveadhesive film of claim 12, wherein the one or more non-metallicreflective elements comprise at least one selected from the groupconsisting of fibers, nanoparticles, and nanostructures, the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements being operably configured to have adesired reflectance.
 16. The UV-C reflective adhesive film of claim 12,wherein the one or more non-metallic reflective elements are selectedfrom the group consisting of glass, ceramics, synthetic polymers,pearlescent materials, and Si-containing compounds.
 17. A UV-Creflective adhesive film comprising: a UV-C reflective layer, the UV-Creflective layer comprising one or more non-metallic reflectiveelements, the one or more non-metallic reflective elements having areflectance percentage in a range of from 50% to 90% for lightwavelengths in a range of from about 200 nanometers to about 500nanometers, and comprising one or more surface properties operable toreflect light according to a predetermined diffusion pattern, whereinthe UV-C reflective layer is configured to steer a diffusion pattern ofreflected light towards a sensor; a substrate layer, the UV-C reflectivelayer being disposed upon a first surface of the substrate layer; and anadhesive layer, the adhesive layer being disposed upon a second surfaceof the substrate layer, wherein the one or more non-metallic reflectiveelements are selected from the group of UV-C reflective materialsconsisting of polycrystalline materials, polymeric materials, organicmaterials, and synthetic materials, and have a form selected fromfibers, nanoparticles and nano structures.
 18. The UV-C reflectiveadhesive film of claim 17, wherein the UV-C reflective layer comprisesone or more surface properties operable to reflect light according to apredetermined reflection angle.
 19. The UV-C reflective adhesive film ofclaim 17, wherein the one or more non-metallic reflective elementscomprise nanoparticles agglomerated to one another so as to form adesired geometry having desired reflectance properties.
 20. The UV-Creflective adhesive film of claim 17, wherein the one or morenon-metallic reflective elements comprise at least one UV-C reflectivematerial selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramics,pearlescent materials and Si-containing compounds.